Large flame torch with textured flame bowl

ABSTRACT

An apparatus with a fuel container and a flame bowl atop the fuel container is disclosed. The flame bowl has a wick proximate the center thereof. The wick extends into a fuel supply within the fuel container. The flame bowl has an interior surface that is texturized to enhance the appearance of the flame.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/104,863 entitled “LARGE FLAME TORCH WITH TEXTURED FLAME BOWL,”filed Oct. 13, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure is related to liquid fueled torches in general and, morespecifically, to a liquid fueled torch with flame enhancing features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Patio torches, also know as lawn torches or garden torches, may be usedto provide lighting or decoration. Sometimes, scented oils or insectrepellant oils are burned in the patio torches for additional effect. Atorch may include a refillable canister that accepts liquid fuel. Atorch may be mounted on or otherwise integrated with a decorative polefor display purposes.

The actual utility of a torch, in terms of light or aroma given off andthe ability to repel pests, may be less than desirable. The wick isoften too small, relatively speaking, to provide an effective amount ofcombustion. Even with larger diameter wicks or wicks that are extendableto create a larger surface area, air and flame control may becomeproblematic, resulting in a flame that may still be too small to createthe desired effect.

What is needed is a device for addressing the above and relatedproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present disclosure, in one aspect thereof comprisesan apparatus with a fuel container and a flame bowl atop the fuelcontainer. The flame bowl has a wick proximate the center thereof, thewick extending into a fuel supply within the fuel container. The flamebowl has an interior surface that is texturized to enhance theappearance of the flame. The interior surface may be texturized in sucha way to promote capillary action of fuel away from the wick. Theinterior surface may also be texturized in such a way to promotecharring on the interior surface. In various embodiments, the interiorsurface may be texturized by a plurality of nubs, by peening, and/or byknurling. The flame bowl may provide a substantially flat floor and/or awick holder for the wick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective cutaway view of a large flame patio torch with aflame enhancing combustion bowl according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective cutaway view of another large flame patio torchwith a flame enhancing combustion bowl according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective cutaway view of another large flame patio torchwith a flame enhancing combustion bowl according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective cutaway view of a large flamepatio torch according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.Although the torch 100 is referred to as a patio torch, for purposes ofthe present disclosure this term is synonymous with any type ofrecreational, decorative, or insect-repellant torches such as gardentorches or table top torches. The torch 100 may be used as an insertwith a stand or other display device to create a torch assembly. In someembodiments, the torch 100 is used as a stand-alone item.

The major components of the torch 100 seen in FIG. 1 comprise a funnel,bowl, or flame guard 104, a neck 105, and a canister 106. These piecesmay be formed integrally or may be formed separately and attached. Inone embodiment, each of these components is made from rolled or stampedsheet metal that may be spot welded or glued together. In otherembodiments, a more durable build may be accomplished by using cast ormachined pieces. In some embodiments, some parts of the torch 100 may beplastic or another material.

The bowl 104 and/or neck 105 may be separable from the canister 106 forrefilling of a torch fuel 408 and/or attaching to other fuel sources. Inthe present embodiment, the neck 105 and canister 106 have a threadedfitting 107. Other embodiments may provide friction fits or otherfittings. In some embodiments, fuel filling and/or ventilation ports 108may be provided. The ventilation ports 108 are only for illustration asother ports or locations are contemplated. The fuel 408 may be acitronella oil or another oil suitable for burning in a decorative orinsect repellant torch.

A wick 202, used for combustion of the fuel 408, may be a cotton wick, afiberglass wick, a polyester wick, or another type of wick using theseor other materials and/or combinations thereof. Although only a singlewick 202 is shown, the present disclosure is not so limited. Multiplewicks may be provided that are capable of simultaneous or selectiveoperation. A wick holder 406 may be sized to retain the wick 202 in afriction fit.

The bowl 104 in the present embodiment is generally conically or funnelshaped with a relatively flat floor. However, in other embodiments, amore rounded floor will be provided. In the present embodiment, theinterior surface 102 of the bowl 104 is textured with raised nubs. Itcan be seen that the texturing or nubbing proceeds along the floor ofthe bowl 104 up to the wick holder 406. In some embodiments, the wickholder 406 will be textured as well. In other embodiments, the wick 202may be held in place by an opening in the floor of the bowl 104.

In operation, depending upon the size and spacing of the nubs on thesurface 102 of the bowl 104, fuel may be drawn or wicked by capillaryaction or seepage away from the wick 406 prior to being burned. Thisfuel may come to coat or otherwise saturate the interior surface 102 ofthe bowl 104. In this event, the fuel may begin to vaporize due to theheat from the flame on the wick 202. In other cases, depending upon thefuel used, the fuel may actually burn on the interior surface 102 of thebowl 104. This additional burning will be in a controlled fashion, owingin part to the limited amount of fuel that can be wicked away bycapillary action or seepage from the wick 202.

The burning or vaporization of the fuel on the surface 102 will serve toenhance the effects of the flame on the wick 202. A larger flame thanwould normally be supported by the wick 406 may be seen to appear tofill the bowl 104 during operation. Additionally, insect repellantfunctions or scent dispersant functions may be enhanced by theadditional fuel consumed or otherwise vaporized on the surface 102. Insome embodiments, the vaporization and/or burning of the fuel on theinterior surface 102 of the bowl 104 will cause charring or aching onthe surface 102. This may serve to enhance the capillary action and/orseepage of the fuel 408. This may, in turn, increase the surface areafor even greater burning or vaporization of fuel.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective cutaway view of another largeflame patio torch with a flame enhancing combustion bowl according toaspects of the present disclosure is shown. In this embodiment, the bowl104 has an interior surface 202 that has been peened to produce atexture. The peening of the surface 202 functions in a similar fashionas the nubbing of the surface 102 of FIG. 1. The peening promotes fuelseepage and/or charring on the surface 202. This enhances the appearanceof the flame and the vaporization of additional fuel. In someembodiments, the wick holder 406 will be peened or otherwise textured.The wick holder 406 may be an integral component of the bowl 104. Asbefore, the actual shape of the bowl 406 may vary. The fuel source maybe separable from the flame bowl 104 and ventilation (not shown) may beprovided.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective cutaway view of another largeflame patio torch with a flame enhancing combustion bowl according toaspects of the present disclosure is shown. This embodiment issubstantially similar to those previously discussed. Here an innersurface 302 of the bowl 104 has been etched with a cross-hatch orknurled pattern. This cross-hatching serves a similar function as thenubbing or peening of previous embodiments. Once again, the wick holder406 may also be knurled and may be an integral part of the bowl 104. Theknurled interior surface 302 promotes fuel seepage from the wick thatenhances the flame during operation and may also provide additionalvaporization of fuel 408. Charring that may occur on the surface 203further serves to enhance the seepage of fuel, the flame effects, andthe vaporization of fuel. As with the pervious embodiments, the flamebowl 104 and ventilation of the fuel source (not shown) may be provided.

In each of the embodiments discussed above, various means are utilizedto provide enhanced fuel burning and/or vaporization (producing a moreactive flame). It is understood that a wide variety of patterns,textures, or surface treatments could be utilized to interrupt theotherwise smooth surface and thereby allow for wicking of fuel and amore active flame. For example, an applied surface texturizing treatmentor coating could be utilized. In some embodiments, painted on finishesmay be utilized. Paints may be utilized that have sand or othertexturizers suspended therein. Spray on insulations or other fireresistant materials may also be used. Furthermore, the density and/ordepth of the nubbing, peening, knurling, or other treatment can bevaried to increase or decrease the flame enhancing effects of the same.In some embodiments, designs may be etched, scored, or carved into theflame bowl.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectivesand attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as thoseinherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have beendescribed for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes andmodifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of thisinvention as defined by the claims.

1. An apparatus comprising: a fuel container; and a flame bowl atop thefuel container having a wick proximate the center thereof, the wickextending into a fuel supply within the fuel container; wherein theflame bowl has an interior surface that is texturized to enhance theappearance of the flame.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theinterior surface is texturized in such a way to promote capillary actionof fuel away from the wick.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theinterior surface is texturized in such a way to promote charring on theinterior surface.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interiorsurface is texturized by a plurality of nubs.
 5. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the interior surface of the bowl is texturized by peening. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the bowl istexturized by knurling.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flamebowl provides a substantially flat floor.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the flame bowl provides a wick holder for the wick.
 9. Anapparatus comprising: a fuel source; a wick holder having a wick incontact with the fuel source; and a flame bowl surrounding the wickholder; wherein the flame bowl provides an inner surface that istexturized to promote seepage of fuel from the wick holder and charringon the inner surface.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising aneck attached to the flame bowl and adapted to interfit with the fuelsource.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fuel source is acontainer of liquid fuel.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein theinner surface of the flame bowl is texturized by scoring.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the inner surface of the flame bowl istexturized by knurling.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the innersurface of the flame bowl is texturized by peening.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the inner surface of the flame bowl is texturized by aplurality of nubs.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flame bowlprovides a substantially flat floor surrounding the wick holder, thefloor being texturized to promote seepage of fuel from the wick holderand charring on the inner surface.
 17. An apparatus comprising: a wickholder; a flame bowl surrounding the wick holder and having a texturedinner surface, the texture being at least sufficient to promote seepageof fuel from the wick holder onto the inner surface; and a neck attachedto the flame bowl for fitting to a fuel source.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 17, further comprising a glass wick in the wick holder.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 18, further comprising a container of liquid fuelattached to the neck.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the fuelsource is secured to the neck by a threaded fitting.